• RAAF
  • VC Member
  • Offline
  • From: Broomfield, CO
  • Registered: 2008-01-27
  • Posts: 1

Topic: What's the consensus on Paul McCartney?

Hello all.... I've been reading these entries with interest for a while... just wondering where Macca falls in the scheme of voices...

I'm personally not qualified to talk technically, but given the range of hits and styles of songs he's written and recorded, it seems to me that he has a lot of range, can croon or scream, and uses his voice to communicate "dramatically" as well, selling the songs he's singing...

I know not everyone's a fan of his music, which doesn't range quite to the metal or even "hard" rock for the most part, but as a voice, I'm respectfully curious as to what you pros who spend your lives on this think....

The reason I'm even asking is because he's virtually never mentioned on the site at all when discussing great or even good voices.... I know his voice isn't nearly as strong as it was in his 20s 30s and 40s, but doesn't he still belt it out pretty well for a 66 year old?

And while we're at it, where does John Lennon fit into the mix of voices?  (Okay, he's dead now, so he doesn't fit... but what about his voice back in the day?)

Thanks for the great forums!

Ron

  • Registered: 2008-07-05
  • Posts: 26

Re: What's the consensus on Paul McCartney?

Actually Paul can get pretty aggressive with the vocals. Helter Skelter

Where words are silent, music speaks.
  • From: India
  • Registered: 2008-05-29
  • Posts: 78

Re: What's the consensus on Paul McCartney?

On Helter Skelter, he's just screaming his brains out, pushing chest, I think. Otherwise Macca seemed to be, in general, singing more technically than Lennon with regards to voice placement and resonance. Also he's a tenor, I believe and with their songs probably never (?) asking for higher than B4 in full voice, it perhaps wasn't quite tough. His falsetto was quite good too.

By the way, I'm just some bum who knows nothing about technique, hehe, this is what it sounds like to me. Also, without meaning any disrespect to anyone, proper singing or not, Lennon & McCartney are the greatest songwriters in history for me and The Beatles will probably always be my favourite band of all time.

Cheers,
V

Last edited by Vats (2008-09-01 08:26:01)

  • From: Vergiate, Italy
  • Registered: 2007-12-27
  • Posts: 155

Re: What's the consensus on Paul McCartney?

Just listen to maybe I'm amazed and you get a pretty wide range of what Paul is able to do with his voice.
Sure he's been a pioneer of some sounds, but I don't know why he's never mentioned for that..maybe those songs could eclipse even stevie wonder..so everybody cares about how good songs are forgetting these are sung in a perfect way.
somebody has seen him live?
God..AMAZING!

Alessandro Del Vecchio
Vocal coach and recording artist for Ian Paice, Glenn Hughes, Jeff Scott Soto, Carmine Appice, Andre Matos, Bob Harris, Steve Walsh and many others...ehm..too many;-)
www.myspace.com/alessandrodelvecchio

Alessandro del Vecchio's Website

  • From: Florida/NY
  • Registered: 2007-12-26
  • Posts: 402

Re: What's the consensus on Paul McCartney?

Beatles were awesome! espeacially as a unit, although they are all great in their own right as individuals. Might I add the same can be said of the Bee Gees. yeah I know they mostly get slack for the disco era lol but they had really great albums out prior to the disco and have written songs for many other people and projects. Spirits having flown was an awesome record. I also would add however they are many lessar know artist from those time periods that were just as good  and even better. unfortunately they get over looked because they're not as highly exposed.

OmniMediaMasters Mainsite Administration- http://www.MajesticPlanet.com  , Check out my new videos on my  MySpace: http://www.Myspace.com/KingofPanormos

Darrison N Bentheim-Murat's Website

  • From: Somewhere in the swamps of Jer
  • Registered: 2008-05-22
  • Posts: 42

Re: What's the consensus on Paul McCartney?

If I'm not mistaken, Paul SANG the bass line of "I Will" from the White Album.  I'm not sure why, but it's a interesting vocal performance nonetheless!

Jersey Jack

Jersey Jack
Somewhere in the swamps of Jersey

Jersey Jack's Website

  • Registered: 2011-01-17
  • Posts: 2

Re: What's the consensus on Paul McCartney?

Watch Paul casually toss off "Besame Mucho" in the "Let it Be" film,  then go try and sing along with him on "Oh Darling", then come back here and try to tell me McCartney in his prime wasn't the best voice in rock.

  • Registered: 2010-11-22
  • Posts: 148

Re: What's the consensus on Paul McCartney?

I think because he is in a class of his own. He has so many gendres he sings and write, plays just about every kind of instrument better than most. Knight Paul Rules.